For the first time in AGES I strolled through London's Scenic Bloomsbury to The Lamb last night, for the first of the new SERIES of Totally Acoustic. It was GOOD to be back!

I found my colleague Mr S Hewitt already there, gradually followed by various regulars and new faces. Alas The Beer In My Pint Glass was POORLY so couldn't make it, but I was hopeful that I could at least take a RECORDING home with me for her, for LO! Tonight I would be making an PODCAST also!

I was a bit worried about how that'd work, not least because I'd only brough my four track rather than the ARMADA of recording equipment I'd planned ot lug along. I was also a bit worried about whether the ACTS would come, but happily by just after 7pm both Dr Neil Brown and Mr Gavin Osborn were in the building, and so we were able to start pretty much ON TIME!

I got off to a bit of a bumpy start by forgetting chunks of the words, also TUNE, for the theme tube - it was mostly caused by my KEEN AWARENESS of the recording device on the table, which caused me to GABBLE ON a bit (NB more than usual even) in the first half of the set. I know this because I listened to it this morning and thought "DO shut up Hibbett"! I also had a bit of trouble with tuning my guitar, as I kept adjusting it WRONGLY, but things calmed down by the end and I think I'll be able to edit together a fairly creditable SET.

I'm planning to have about HALF of everyone's gig in the actual podcast - the idea of this is to make it a manageable length, and also to be able to save some songs for later compilation versions between seasons. I thought this would be easier, but having sat through the other acts last night I think I may have some TOUGH DECISIONS on my hands. For LO! next was Dr Neil Brown who was, as ever, COMPLETELY GRATE. Sometimes Neil does gigs as a long GLARE at the audience, almost DARING them to disagree with him, but this time he sat down and, with a SMILE and a thoughtful turn of phrase, allowed everyone to come to HIM. It was EXCELLENT, and I was especially happy to FINALLY hear "Sea Of Lettuce", a song he has spoken of for... well, DECADES, but which I have never heard. It was BRILLO!

As indeed was our headliner, Mr Gavin Osborn. GOOD LORD but he was brilliant - funny, really moving, and with lyrical GENIUS strewn around willy nilly. I must admit to having a bit of an old CRY at the end of "Albert Goes To Rock Shows" and a mighty LARF at his opening NEW song which, apparently, is going to be part of a concept album about MARRIAGE and all that. It was wonderful, and as ever I thought it a SHAME that he is not much MUCH more widly known, for he would make very many people very happy indeed.

It was, as Mr J Kell was later to remark, pretty much the PLATONIC IDEAL of Totally Acoustic - just the right amount of people happy to enjoy some brilliant performers at the top of their game in a lovely evening, only slightly marred by a shouty fenlander at the beginning. LOVELY. I just hope it comes across that way in the podcast!

thanks mark. i had a really great time. can't wait to see you for the bath gig in december. oh, and thanks for sending me a copy of my set. like you said of yourself, i can't believe how much i waffle on. dreadful. still, glad you liked it. hope the rest of them are equally wonderful.posted 18/10/2010 by gavin osborn